February 28th, 2014
For a small business, moving into offices to let is quite a plunge. You need to start by deciding exactly what you want from your new workplace, but that may be easier said than done. If you’ve tried to approach this whole question methodically, you’ve probably already realised that pinning down just what your requirements are is a tough job.
It’s in the nature of start-ups or other small businesses that requirements are constantly evolving, as the venture hopefully grows and gains customers. Before deciding on an office rental, you need to think over all the areas which might change in the future.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing Office Space
There are many different questions to ask yourself when choosing office space – which sound quite daunting at first. For instance, what happens if you want to take on more staff, or cut back? How do you get top-notch facilities but manage your costs? Is there a way of basing yourself at a good business address without stretching yourself financially? And how can you afford to lease somewhere without being completely sure of your future cashflow?
You may also need to upgrade your IT when you move to new offices to let, but, as a small business, it is unlikely you will be able to afford full-time technical support. Then there is the whole question of making a professional impression on potential clients. Wooing customers is largely about creating a great image, but what do you do when you can’t afford swanky refurbishments, never mind hiring a receptionist?
Ideal Requirements
Fortunately, there are answers available to all these questions, so don’t panic! Once you have your list of ideal requirements, you’ll be able to decide which type of business offices for lease are best suited to meet them.
Flexibility: Since your business needs may change in the future, the ideal is to find offices to rent which can change with you. Many modern business centres have a choice of units available in different sizes. So you could start off in a small office and then move into a larger one as you need to expand, without the upheaval of transferring to a different site.
Equally, if your business downsizes, perhaps because you have decided to concentrate on a particular niche market where your expertise lies, you could also move from a larger to a smaller unit. Look for a flexible lease which doesn’t tie you in for too long, such as a monthly contract with the ability to give two weeks’ notice if you decide to move out.
Infrastructure: Arranging the various facilities you need for your business, from broadband to power, can be a headache, with a confusing range of options on the market. However, choosing serviced office accommodation is a way of getting communications and other facilities included in your rental for a fixed monthly price. Economies of scale also mean it’s likely that the business centre will have been able to get better deals than you would get by trying to negotiate with the companies concerned yourself. An added bonus at many serviced offices is expert on-site technical support, to help keep everything running smoothly.
Making a Good Impression: Clean, bright workspace and a receptionist to field queries are both musts, to give the message that you are a forward-looking company. Basing yourself at a business centre is likely to mean you will have a receptionist provided, along with the use of serviced meeting rooms, helping to give a professional image to any prospective clients. Choosing the right offices to let will also give you a good business address without the need to buy or rent expensive accommodation individually.
Support and Networking: Large businesses take support networks for granted, but small businesses may not have similar frameworks in place. Moving into a serviced office rental means you will have the same kind of back-up as the big boys. This includes an on-the-spot manager to deal with any concerns immediately, and a team dealing with the building admin chores you’d otherwise have to spend time on yourself. This includes issues like health and safety, fire safety and providing washrooms and kitchen facilities.
Another advantage of being based in a unit alongside other small businesses is the opportunity for networking. You’ll be in a business-like atmosphere, with a community of other like-minded people around you, and can meet up with them naturally in break-out areas or at social events. Networking seminars and events also offer scope to build valuable links and help one another.
Basepoint has a wide range of offices to let, with units of varying sizes and highly flexible contracts. You can benefit from fully serviced office space with an on-site management team and facilities including broadband and telephone systems. Available locations include High Wycombe, Luton, Weymouth and Tewkesbury.
